Alan joined CECS in June 2025 as Strategic Connections Advisor to Vice Provost & Dean Ozlem Kilic and her team. In this capacity, he also serves as Government Advisory Board Manager. Over the following twelve months, he will work alongside the CECS Team to establish a twelve-member advisory board comprising prominent leaders from various public sector positions spanning federal, state, and local government. This advisory group will play a crucial role in advancing the mission of CECS by providing guidance on enhancing the preparedness and quality of future UTK graduates, including CECS majors, minors, and students who have completed rigorous CECS coursework—ensuring they are ready to contribute effectively from their first day.
Mr. Hill is the Founder and Strategic Connections Advisor for Hill Networks of Tennessee, a consulting practice he launched in April 2025. With over 43 years of experience in Telecommunications and Information Technology, his background includes roles in sales, consulting, and public/government relations. He spent 37 years with AT&T/BellSouth, retiring in November 2024. During his final 15 years, he managed public and government relations for AT&T across East and Middle Tennessee.
In addition, Alan operated his own consulting business from 2002 to 2007, equipping him with insights into both small businesses and large corporations. He was a founding member and the first Executive Director of East Tennessee Health Information Network (etHIN), where he contributed to establishing a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO). During his tenure at etHIN, Mr. Hill served on the Governor’s eHealth Advisory Council for 2006-2007 under Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.
Currently, Alan serves on the board of the Covenant Health Foundation and is Chairman of the Patricia Neal Golf Classic. His recent board memberships include the Knoxville Area Urban League, the Sevier County Economic Development Council, and the East TN Economic Development Agency. He is a former UT Knoxville Chancellor’s Associate (2015-17) and a graduate of the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2012. Additional service includes involvement with the Knoxville Chamber and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.
Hailing from Athens, TN, Alan earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from UT Knoxville in 1977.
Alan’s longstanding relationship with the University of Tennessee extends beyond his college career. He has held account management positions at BellSouth and AT&T to support UT Knoxville’s Office of Information Technology for several years, and most recently acted as a liaison between AT&T leadership and UT Knoxville’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED). Notable projects include: